Brexit scuppers UK’s 2023 European Capital of Culture bids

Image caption
Dundee was one of five UK cities hoping to host the title in 2023

The UK will not be able to compete in the European Capital of Culture 2023 competition due to Brexit, the European Commission has confirmed.

Five UK cities were bidding to host the title, with the winner expected to be announced next week.

A letter from the European Commission to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said UK participation “would not be possible”.

It said the UK’s selection process should “immediately be discontinued”.

Dundee, Nottingham, Leeds, Milton Keynes and Belfast / Derry submitted their final bid proposals at the end of October.

The UK government said previously that the title was “part of our plan for a dynamic, outward-looking and global Britain” post-Brexit.

However, it had warned bidders that the contest “may be subject to the outcome of those exit negotiations”.

A spokeswoman for the European Commission Office in Scotland told BBC News: “As one of the many concrete consequences of its decision to leave the European Union by 29 March 2019, the UK cannot host the European Capital of Culture in 2023.

“According to the rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council (Decision 445/2014), this action is not open to third countries except candidate countries and European Free Trade Association/European Economic Area countries.

“Given that the UK will have left the EU by 29 March 2019, and therefore be unable to host the European Capital of Culture in 2023, we believe it makes common sense to discontinue the selection process now.”

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